On Thursday 5 October, MEPs approved the proposal to extend the current Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) for a further 4 years (see EUROPE B13215A17). The text is necessary to avoid the end of preferential tariffs for around sixty countries, the text’s rapporteur, Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA), insisted to her colleagues on the eve of the vote.
She went on to point out, however, that the extension was merely “the unfortunate consequence” of the failure of negotiations with the...